

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) boasts over 200 separate categories of vehicles, though the basic categories can be divided in two: Vehicles are rated and classed based on a variety of information, including the advertised factory weight of the vehicle, the type of fuel used, and the horsepower of the engine.
#DRAG RACE CAR PRO#
Most pro drag race vehicles are specially designed roadsters made to race at short distances, but hobbyists and weekend warriors have their own categories, as well. Understand the different classes of drag vehicles. Try to keep your ambitions practical, Mr. Sure, you can say you want to have a 1,000 HP dragon-breather going in that Trans-Am, but the cost of the all the aftermarket drive train components necessary? The stress upgrades necessary for the chassis? If you can get 500 HP at street-level, you won't have to worry about getting embarrassed at the track. X Research source Depending on the engine, you should be able to use at least some of the factory components in the drivetrain to keep the project as affordable as possible. Hydraulic roller cams and aftermarket cylinder heads are a common modification. A good drag engine should maximize horsepower, probably using some aftermarket modifications to maximize the efficiency of the engine.How fast do you want your car to go? What kind of engine do you want to build? What kind of engine can the body of your vehicle take? Much of the work and much of the fun that goes into planning a hot rod project will come with making these decisions for yourself. A '57 Chevy Bel Air is a perfectly-great drag strip candidate for some classic-car enthusiasts, but for others that heavy frame might outweigh the style points.Ĭonsider rebuilding the engine or installing a new engine. Many aspiring dragsters probably have a frame or a model in mind when they're getting started, because of the look.But for many drivers, anything beyond 500 HP is excessive.

If you've got that, you'll have a muscle-monster.

A good dragster often has an engine modified with aftermarket cams, heads, and other components, to maximize the horsepower so it runs in excess of 600 or 700 HP.
#DRAG RACE CAR DRIVER#
RELATED: Kenosha police pull elderly driver from burning car after sparking rim causes vehicle to catch fire The sport he loves put Douthit in the hospital.Īt a Memorial Day classic, his jet-engine-propelled 1997 Scallywag Wheelstander flipped on its side and burst into flames. ĭavid Douthit said he can't wait to race again, and plans to be back at the same track for the Fourth of July. A drag racer is recovering from burns after a fiery crash outside of Milwaukee, CNN reported. While the fire may have taken Douthit out of the race, you can't take the fire out of his love for the sport.
